Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-03-17
BEECHER'S BURIAL SERVICES.
Touching Incident of the Great Preach
er's Last Night in Plymouth
Church.

New YORK. March l1-Fully 25.00C
people attended the Bsecber memorial
services in the various Brookly church.
es to-day. Two hours before the doors
were opened at Plymouth Church vast
crowd had gathered, and waited pa
tiently till 10 o'clock, when they were
permitted to enter and were shown to
seats by ushers. The house was lavish
ly decorated with flowers, and every
veStige of the black cloth covering OF
the casket was hidden under white
roses, lilies of the valley, and French
moss. Just as tue services were about
to begin, shaft of sunlight falling on a
pillow of flowers ou the pulpit bearing
the words, "The Friend and Champion
of the Slave" made beautiful picture,
When Rev. DIR. Charles E. Hall arose
to deliver the funeral Grafton be faced
an audience composed of prominent
people in every walk of life and com>
pletely filling the vast auditorium. DR..
Hall concluded very able address in
the following words:
"a brave aud weary heart is here at
rest; brave of old to dare brutal force
and defy the violence of mobs and ruff
fiians in speaking for the slave; brave to
accept the muTmur5 and doubts of his
political friends when conscience prompt
ed TO part from them; bravest to wrestle
along with great sorrow when be could
find no earthly help. We honor him for
the courage of his former acts; we love
him and wonder at him for tire calm,
sweet, gentle resignation of these last
years. God, believe, has led him step
by step to spend his last DAYS among
us With wisdom gained from the cross;
4 tender, gentle, sober wisdom which
helped him to see the, Captain of our sal>
walton, Who was made perfect through
suffering that we may all be of one and
the great sufferer not ashamed to call
US brethren.
"On his last Sunday evening In this
place, two weeks ago. after the congre-
cation had retired from it, the Orgsnist
and one OF two others were practicing
the hymn, 81 Heard the Voice of Jesus
y, L..
Beecher, doubtless with that great tire
that follows pastors Sunday work. re
nsined and listened. Two street urchins
were prompted to wander into the
building. and one of them was standing
in the position of the boy whom Rafael
has immortalized, gazing in at the organ.
The old man. laying his hands on the
boys head, turned his face upward and
kissed him, and, with his arm about the
two, left the scene of his triumphS, his
trials and his successes forever. 1t WAS
fitting close to grand life. the old
man of genius and fame shielding the
little wanderers, great in breasting ira
ditional ways and prejudices, great also
in the gesture, 50 like him. that recOgt
nizes. as did the Master. that the humblets
and the poorest were his brethreh--the
great preacher led out into the night by
the little nameless waits.
"The great Life of Christ is left un-
finished for US to do our little part and
weave our humble deeds and teachings
into the story. Man will praise our
brother for genius, patriotism, victories
and intellectual labors. My love for
him 's had its origin in his broad hu-
manity, his utter lack of sbam,h his trans
parent love of the JUNCTION from above
that dwells in and teaches and beauti>
ties the lines of duty. He said of his
father, The two things which he de-
sired most were the glory of God and
the good of man. so it WAS with him,
as the hearts of grateful myriads attest.
Bet we bid him here farewell; and to
me oftenest will come the vision of him
passing out of yonder door with his
arms about the boys, passing on to the
city of God, where he hears again the
familiar voice of the Master saying.
OF such is the Kingdom of Heaven"
DR.. Hall pronounced the benedic.ion
and the vast audience slowly filed out
of the church. 1t was a notable gather
ing and one long to be remembered by
thnse present. After the conclusion of
the services at the Plymouth Church
the public was admitted 10 view the
bcdV